Since coming under attack in 1987 by a group calling itself the "Irish People's Liberation Organisation" (IPLO), the bourgeois media, as well as some other political organisations chiefly concerned with enhancing their hegemony within the nationalist community of Ireland's occupied six counties, have repeatedly put forward statements which seek to besmirch the reputation of the INLA. Among these is the allegation that the INLA has often experienced bloody internal feuding, which is a reiteration of the manner in which the IPLO attacks on the Irish Republican Socialist Movement was characterized when it occurred. The IPLO was a grouping composed of several factions expelled from the Irish Republican Socialist Movement between 1983 and 1986 for behavior likely to bring disrepute to the Movement. The IPLO demanded the dissolution of the INLA at the time it launched its attacks, making clear that the matter was not an internal power struggle, but an attempt to liquidate our Movement.

When the INLA eventually halted the onslaught by executing IPLO leader Gerard Steenson and several of his followers, a number of leading figures in the IPLO joined the Provisional IRA. The remaining rump organisation of the IPLO, grouped around Jimmy Brown, became a haven for criminal elements and eventually became heavily involved in drug dealing, especially in the distribution of Ecstasy. The activities of this criminal band was used to attempt to smear the reputation of the INLA, though the INLA itself has never engaged in drug dealing. Those engaged in this slander against the INLA have never provided the slightest evidence for the charges, but have always referred to the IPLO's activity in this area and then suggested this also applied to the INLA.

In the eight years since the IPLO attacks ended, no INLA volunteer has been charged with any criminal activity, other than military action against British occupation forces and Loyalist death squad members that would be termed criminal by those opposed to Irish national liberation. We denounce this ongoing campaign of innuendo and slander which make assertions without any offer of evidence.

Finally, we are amused by the constant media supposition about the present size and strength of the INLA, as well as about its plans. Last autumn the media asserted with mock confidence that the INLA would declare a ceasefire at the close of September. When following the Loyalist ceasefire declaration the INLA reiterated its position to maintain itself in arms until a 32 county Irish socialist republic was established, the media retreated on the subject, only to again assert that "reliable sources" said the INLA would declare a ceasefire by Christmas. Once again, reliable sources were wrong.

It was widely reported months ago that the INLA had obtained a large supply of explosives prior to the IRA ceasefire declaration, and was known to have sufficient arms to carry out operations throughout the first half of last year. Despite this, the media now conjectures that the INLA is seeking to "rearm." Other reports recently have said the INLA wishes to destablize the IRA ceasefire -- which they have never joined and therefore cannot destablize. On the contrary, the INLA has held back from military operations since last September to enable the nationalist people to witness the empty promise of the present "Peace Process" for themselves, rather than provide Britain with a scapegoat for its own lack of positive action in ending its continued occupation of the six counties.

Now the media claims the INLA has little more than two dozen volunteers, in an attempt to provoke the INLA into demonstrating its strength, and to further marginalize any group not prepared to participate in the theatrics of peace talks whose conclusion has all too clearly been determined in advance.

Irish Republican Socialist Committees of North America